Winterfest

HARTFORD - The Hartford Parking Authority is offering free parking in its three garages Friday, when Winterfest is being held at Bushnell Park. Parking is free after 3 p.m. at the authority's two garages on Church Street and one on Morgan Street. Winterfest begins at Bushnell Park at 4 p.m. For more information, call the parking authority at 860-527-7275 or visit www.hartfordparking.com .

By JENNA CARLESSO, jcarlesso@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, January 30, 2014

Winterfest has drawn more than 53,000 skaters since it opened in late November, about the same amount as last year, even though this season's festival ran longer, officials said. Organizers said the turnout was affected by bitter cold temperatures and snowstorms that forced them to close the rink four full days and six partial days this season. "If we didn't have the weather we had, we would have easily had over 60,000 skaters," said Kristina Newman-Scott, the city's director of marketing, events and cultural affairs.

The 17 t h annual Winterfest will be Feb. 16 at Stanley Quarter Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will include ice-skating, sledding, children's activities, helicoptor rides, live entertainment, ice sculptures and other attractions. Admission is $5 per person and the helicoptor rides are an additional $15. Organizers will have food for sale. For more information, visit http://www.newbritainct.gov/recnpark. Last year's event attracted about 3,000 people. In the event of inclement weather, this year's event will be postponed to Feb. 17. —Ken Byron

Nearly 200 volleyball teams from many different states converge on the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford for the Mizuno New England Winterfest Friday through Monday, Jan. 17 to 20. Players ages 14 to 18 compete in matches that are open to the public Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.' and Monday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets: $20. Information: newinterfest.com .

The Rock Cats say that Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive at their Winterfest gala on Dec. 10. Activities start at 10 a.m. at New Britain Stadium and continue through 2 p.m. There will be free coffee and light refreshments, along with a coloring contest and and arts and crafts session for children. Several Rock Cats mascots - including Rocky - will appear. Attendees are invited to bring new, unwrapped items for a holiday collection to benefit the Hartford Archdiocese's Catholic Charities, the Prudence Crandall Center and the Salvation Army.

The city has scheduled its 17th annual WinterFest for Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stanley Quarter Park. Activities will include ice skating, sledding and others. Recreation Superintendent Erik Barbieri said he hopes to attract more people than the roughly 3,000 that attended last year. WinterFest will feature tethered hot air balloon rides, a dance party, pony rides, clowns, a caricaturist, jugglers, ice sculptures, a treasure hunt, and three-story high climbing wall.

There's been too much winter for Winterfest. The parks and recreation department announced Thursday that it must postpone the annual festival because of snow pileup at Stanley Quarter Park. The festival was planned for Feb. 15, but has been postponed until further notice. “A significant amount of time and effort would be required to prepare Stanley Quarter Park for the event,” Recreation Superintendent Erik Barbieri said in a statement. “Clearly the city services are still needed in order to clear roads and ensure public safety.

Ice sculptures, a jumbo trampoline, face painting, pony rides, warming fires, clowns, magicians and more are planned for the city's 18th annual WinterFest celebration on Feb. 17. Festivities are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stanley Quarter Park. Recreation Superintendent Erik Barbieri estimates 3,000 people showed up for last year's WinterFest and hopes to draw even more this time. “We hope to get the entire community out of winter hibernation," Barbieri said.

The Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce's annual Winterfest/Chili Contest is scheduled for Feb. 27. Businesses interested in participating should call the chamber at (860) 388-3266 by Friday. Still needed are chili makers, Main Street locations where caterers and restaurants can set up booths and participants willing to provide additional activities, such as face-painting and story-telling.

WinterFest '99, the annual celebration originally scheduled for today at Stanley Quarter Park, has been postponed until Friday because of expected heavy rains. The family event, which includes an alpine ski machine, an ice hockey demonstration by the East Catholic High School varsity team, hot-air balloon rides, ice sculpture and other seasonal activities, is now set for Friday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the park.

A citywide parking ban was lifted at noon Friday as plow trucks continued to clear snow and salt the roads, city officials said. "All streets have been plowed," said Maribel La Luz, spokeswoman for the mayor's office. "[Public works] is pushing back snow and salting. They may plow the major streets again. " Meteorologists were forecasting between 5 and 10 inches of snowfall Thursday afternoon into Friday. Totals appear to be on the lower end of that estimate in parts of Greater Hartford, but a concern now is frigid temperature that will dip to the single digits Friday and potentially hit record lows, officials and weather forecasters said.

By JESSICA MOORE, jesmoore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, December 23, 2013

HARTFORD -- Despite snow, followed by rain and temperatures in the 60s, Winterfest at Bushnell Park has drawn over 18,000 visitors in the first few weeks of the 2013 season. "Clearly the weather hasn't been the best," said Kristina Newman-Scott, director of marketing, events and cultural affairs for Hartford. Newman-Scott said the numbers are on par with those of last year, which exceeded 100,000 visitors for the season. Last weekend, people stood in lines that wrapped around the block to meet Santa Claus, said Newman-Scott.

Rita Carbone-Lawson, Ellington Women's Club and Ellington, December 12, 2013

The Ellington Women's Club served free hot beverages and cookies at the Ellington Winterfest on Dec. 4. E-mail ellingtonwomensclub@yahoo.com or visit website http://www.ellingtonwomensclub.weebly.com for additional information.

BY KELLY GLISTA, Kglista@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, November 29, 2013

HARTFORD - Lights twinkled and bells jingled in Bushnell Park on Friday night as people gathered to lace up their skates and kick off the city's annual Winterfest. Special guests Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman joined Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and other local officials in the opening ceremony before the 90-by-115-foot skating rink was opened to the public. When the "Festival of Light" celebration was moved from Constitution Plaza to Bushnell Park, and renamed Winterfest three years ago, the 90-by-50-foot ice rink had room for about 70 skaters at a time.

By JENNA CARLESSO, jcarlesso@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, November 29, 2013

Each year, Winterfest's icy footprint gets bigger. When the city moved its holiday celebration from Constitution Plaza - where it was called the Festival of Light - to Bushnell Park three years ago, organizers constructed a 90-by-50-foot ice rink that had room for about 70 skaters at a time. This year, the 90-by-115-foot rink will hold as many as 170. And organizers are looking to top the roughly 60,000 skaters that the festival drew last winter. "The park will be alive," event director Bob Crawford said.

There's been too much winter for Winterfest. The parks and recreation department announced Thursday that it must postpone the annual festival because of snow pileup at Stanley Quarter Park. The festival was planned for Feb. 15, but has been postponed until further notice. “A significant amount of time and effort would be required to prepare Stanley Quarter Park for the event,” Recreation Superintendent Erik Barbieri said in a statement. “Clearly the city services are still needed in order to clear roads and ensure public safety.

Lyman Orchards holds its 33rd annual Winterfest Saturday and Sunday in Middlefield. Activities at the free event include a Siberian husky mushing demonstration (like the one pictured here), an ice sculpting competition and a seminar on tree pruning. A Food Expo at the event features New England treats such as sugar-on-snow -- made from maple syrup boiled down to a taffy-like consistency and drizzled over snow -- and funnel cakes. There also are hayrides and face-painting for children.

WinterFest '99, the annual festival put on by the Parks and Recreation Department, will run from Feb. 4 through Feb. 8 in several locations. A scavenger hunt will highlight this year's celebration. Participants may pick up scavenger packets at town hall Feb. 4 after 1 p.m. These packets identify the historical sites Granby contestants will seek. Prizes, including gift certificates, will be available for successful scavengers. Other events held throughout the weekend include a chili-making contest, art and photography show and all-you-can eat breakfast.

By JENNA CARLESSO, jcarlesso@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, January 17, 2013

Although it ran nearly a month shorter this season, the city's annual Winterfest celebration drew more skaters and spectators than last year. The event has attracted between 53,000 and 54,000 skaters and at least 100,000 visitors, Director Bob Crawford said Thursday. He estimated that by Monday, when the festival closes for the season, the number of skaters would top out around 60,000. "We're extremely happy," he said. "We've proved that this is now a permanent activity in the downtown Hartford inventory of cultural and recreational activities.

By JENNA CARLESSO, jcarlesso@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, December 21, 2012

The city's annual Winterfest celebration is gaining popularity, with a roughly 50 percent increase in visitors so far this season. About 45,000 people have visited the festival at Bushnell Park so far, organizers said, up from roughly 30,000 at this point last year. Of this year's visitors, about 25,000 people have skated at the free ice rink. The city also saw a jump in attendees at the opening ceremony Nov. 23, with 5,000 this year, up from 2,500 in 2011. About 6,500 people skated at the rink during the festival's opening weekend this year.